Rotative boiler-tube cleaner.



J. O. CASADAY.

ROTATIVE BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1913.

M1 33 Q@%. Patented Mar. 30, 1915,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. O. GASADAY.

ROTATIVE BOILER TUBE CLEANER APPLICATION FILED APR.28. 1913.

1 1 gggg gg Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHDTGLITHOH wASHINGmN, D c.

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JAMES OLIVER CASADAY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

ROTA'IIVE BOILER-TUBE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 33, 11915.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 763,883.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES OLIVER CAsm DAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulIInprovements in Rotative Boiler-Tube Oleaners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the use of water tube boilers the scale forming within the water tubes sooner or later forms a thick non-conducting lining for the tube, which absorbs an immense quantity of heat, thereby acting directly to cause large waste in fuel consumption. This scale quickly becomes indurated-in fact, it

becomes of such a stony nature that the ordinary boiler tube cleaner can only remove it with great difiiculty. In consequence, various types of rotative power driven boiler tube cleaners have been used for the purpose of cutting away such scale. Some of these have proven very unsatisfactory because ofthe injury likely to be done to the boiler tube thereby, for obviously many types of cutters capable of removing the indurated boiler scale are also capable of injuring the tube. Uther devices of the kind have served to remove considerable quantities of the scale by practically drilling their way therethrough, but have left the inner side of the tube so roughened either by the action of the tool upon the tube or by the adhering particles of scale which the tool failed to remove, that such roughened points have served as centers for the accumulation of fresh scale.

Many of the tools heretofore devised for the purpose are complicated in their character and are so constructed as to render the operation thereof uncertain or breakage frequent.

The object of this invention is to afford a rotative boiler tube cleaner provided with a guiding, drilling or cutting point of such a character as to readily remove the scale, but so constructed and supported as to render the same incapable of contacting the tube and to afford at the rear thereof an expanding scale cutter and polisher, which serves to break the remaining scale from the tube, and to smooth or polish the inner side of the tube at the rear of the cutter.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a device in which the tool may be fed with accuracy along the axis of the tube and in which expanding means are employed at the rear of the cutter to break the scale from the tube and to smooth the surface thereafter.

It is an object also of the invention to afford a tool of the class described in which chattering or vibration of the tool is obviated, and in which spiral polishers remove all particles of scale and roughness from the tube, whether deposited from the water or not.

It is also an object of the invention to afford an' exceedingly strong and simple device of the class, and which acts expansively within the tube in removing the scale, but which collapses toward the center in withdrawing.

The invention embraces many novel features and consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the operation of a device embodying my invention, and showing the boiler tube in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section illustrating the construction of the cutting and polishing members and the carrying head therefor. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted. Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the guiding drill or cutting head.

As shown in the drawings: 1,indicates the boiler tube.

2, indicates the shaft of the tool. This is angular to receive thereon the angular tubular driving shaft 3, whereby the tool is rotated. Secured on said shaft 2, is a collar 3*, beyond which a portion of the shaft is turned to cylindric form, as shown in Fig. 2, and at its extremity said shaft is threaded. Secured on the angular portion of said shaft and recessed to receive the collar 3, therein, is a disk 5, circular in form and of less diameter than the boiler tube in which the tool is to be used. In the construction in which four of the rotativ e and crushing members are'employed, said disk is provided with four cam slots 6, arranged along equal chords in the face of the disk and at right angles with each other and at the intersections of said slots cutting through the periphery, as shown in Fig. 5, and cutting in at the intersection of two of said cam slots is a stop pin 7, hereinafter referred to. A corresponding'di'skfi, provided with corresponding cam slots 9, and provided with a hub 10, is secured on'the forward end of said shaft just back of the threaded extremity thereof, and is positively engaged thereto with the corresponding camslots in substantially the same plane by means of a drift pin 11, extending through said hub and a corresponding aperture in the shaft. Rotatably. engaged on the cylindric portion of the shaft between the cam disks 5 and 8, before described, isa sleeve 12, of a length to fit between said cam disks and having rigidlysecured thereon at each end thereof, eircularcarrying disks 13 and 14L,'each provided with as many radial slots 14 as there are cam slots in each of said camdisks,that is to say, in the construction shown, inasmuch as there are four cam slots in each of the cam disks, there are likewise four of said'radial slots in each of the carrying disks arranged 90 degrees apart, and with the radial slots in each carrying disk opposite" those in the'other.

A Journaled in each pair of radial slots in thecarrying. disks is a bearing'block 15,

shaped to slide radially therein, and journaled in "said bearing block is a shaft 16, the rear end of which (or that engaged in the slot inthe cam disk 5) is provided with a head 17*,"of a. width greater than the diameter of said shaft in one direction, and in the other of a dimension to fit and slide in the'cam slots, as shown in Figs. 2-and 5. The other end of said shaft .16, is flattened on opposite sides to fitin the cam slots 9,

V of the cam disk 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,

so that said cam slots hold said shafts from rotating in the'bearing blocks 15, except a very slight rotation,'due to the varying angle when said shafts are slid outwardly in saidvcam slots toward the periphery of the cam diskL Journaled on each of said shafts 16, is the fluted crushing member 17 a and the spirally ribbed polishing member 18,

which, as shown, are constructed integrally, and cast or; otherwise secured upon a sleeve 19, which fits to the shaft 16.. As shown, the crushingor breakingmember 17, is con-' ically tapered toward the forward end and is provided with a plurality of longitudinal sharp ribs 20', of which'any desired number may beused, but which, as shown, are arranged "difierent distances apart around the periphery thereof, thus constantly varymg the bight of this portion of the tool upon the scaleas the tapered end thereof is crowded into'cutting and breaking relation therewith. This in itself tends to obviate chattering or vibration of the tool, inasmuch as one or more of the cutting or breaking ribs are at all times positively engaged in cutting operation.

The spiral polisher 18, shown as integrally connected at the rear end of the breaker or crusher, is provided with a spiral rib, the thread thereof being directed so that with the normal rotation of the tool as a whole in cutting, the forward feed of the tool acts to rotate said polishing members in a direction to pull any remaining particles of scale or other roughness, from the surface of the tube.

Threaded on the extremity of the shaft is the guiding and drilling point. This, as shown, comprises a head having four cutting blades 21, 22, 28, 24, arranged at right angles with each other and meeting at the apex of the axis of the tool, said cutting webs or edges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, being integrally connected with bracing or reinforcing plates or webs 25, in the angles between the same, said cutting edges being notched near their middle part to afford secondary cutters26, also four in number, and connected by webs 27, which, as shown, nearly fill the angle between the successive cutting edges, although affording sufiicient space to permit water or steam to flow past the same and to discharge together with the broken scale, in advance of the tool.

The operation is as follows: The tool, assembled as described, is inserted into the boiler tube and rotated by means of any suitable motor or mechanism and usually with a continuous flow of steam or water into the tube behind the same, and which actsto carry the broken scale from the tool in'advance of the cutter. The drilling or guiding point is of such diameter as compared with the transverse dimensions of the rest of the tool that it can rarely, if ever, contact the tube at all, and is centralized at the axis of the tube at all times by the expanding action of the breaking and crushing members and polishing members at the rear thereof, as hereinafter described. In consequence the cutting or drilling point is guided at all times along the axis of the tube, the first series of cutters thereon serving to open the tube by removing the first layers of scale, while the second cutters on said head remove the succeeding layers, breaking the same away to nearly the surface of the tube, and affording a sufficient clearance to permit the forward cam disk and carrying disk to follow the same. Considerable portions of scale, however, yet remain upon the tube and this is next enthe resistance exerted by the scale encountered at the inclined points of the crushers or breakers, are retarded in the cam slots and consequently the shafts are slid outwardly in the cam slots until the crushing and breaking members are brought into positive engagement with the inner surface of the boiler tube. This movement, however, is limited by means of the pin 7, shown in Fig. 5, at the intersection of two of said cam slots against which the end of one of the shafts is brought at the outward limit of adjustment, thereby holding the carrying members from rotating further with reference to the cam disks, and in consequence limiting any further outward movement of any of said shafts and the members carried thereon. Sufficient resistance is exerted at all times to, rotate said crushing and breaking members, and, inasmuch as the polishing members are integral therewith, and may, if desired, project outwardly slightly beyond the ribs of the crushing members, the spiral edge of these, in rotating, engage and pull any remaining scale or material from the boiler tube, leaving the same entirely cleaned and smooth. Immediately when the revolution of the tool is discontinued, the shafts 16, with the members thereon fall inwardly to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus collapsing in the tube to permit of ready withdrawal. Of course, while I have shown but four of said shafts 16, with the rotative elements there on, a greater or a less number may be employed, dependent upon the size of the tube to be cleaned. Of course, a greater or a larger number of the same, if used, would operate as hereinbefore described.

Numerous details of the construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A. shaft, cam disks thereon having cam slots in the inner face of each arranged along equal chords, rigidly connected radially slotted carrying disks rotatively secured on said shaft closely adjacent each of the cam disks, a shaft carried in each pair of slots in the carrying disks and engaging at its opposite ends in corresponding cam slots in the cam disks, rotative crushing and polishing members on each of said shafts, and an opening tool or point secured on the inner extremity of the driv ing shaft.

2. it. shaft, cam disks thereon having a plurality of cam slots in the inner face of each along equal chords in the cam disk faces, rigidly connected radially slotted carrying disks rotatively secured on said shaft between and closely adjacent each of the cam disks, a shaft carried in each pair of radial slots in the carrying disks and slidably engaging at its opposite ends in cam slots in the cam disks, rotative crushing and polishing members on each of said shafts, and a guiding and opening cutter or tool secured on the inner extremity of the driving shaft.

3. In a boiler tube cleaner, a shaft, a centering and guiding drill point on the extremity thereof for opening the tube, an expanding, breaking and polishing head rotative with the shaft and at the rear of the centering and guiding drill point comprising integrally connected ribbed elements, one of said elements provided with ribs running longitudinally thereof and terminating at a tapered end, and the other of said elements provided with spiral ribs, and means acting to force said ribbed elements radially outward when the shaft is rotated.

4. In a boiler tube cleaner a shaft, means for driving the same, a centering and guiding drill point on the extremity thereof for opening the tube, a carrying head rotative with the shaft and at the rear of the centering guiding drill point, independently rotative longitudinally ribbed breaking and crushing elements spirally ribbed polishing elements formed integral therewith said integral elements movable outwardly on the head when in operation, and mechanism having chordally disposed slots therein acting to move said elements on said head.

5. A shaft, cam disks thereon having cam slots arranged along equal chords in the inner faces of the cam disks, rotative rigidly connected radially slotted carrying disks secured on said shaft between and closely adjacent each of the cam disks, a shaft carried in each pair of slots in the carrying disks and engaging at its opposite ends in corresponding slots in the cam disks, independently rotative longitudinally ribbed crushing and spirally ribbed polishing members on each of said shafts, and movable outwardly in said cam slots when in operation, and an opening tool or point secured on the extremity of the driving shaft.

6. In a boiler tube cleaner a shaft, a centering and guiding drill point on the extremity thereof, expansively acting breaking and polishing members integral with one another disposed at the rear thereof, rotative with said shaft and revolving inde pendently thereof, said breaking members provided with longitudinally unequally spaced ribs, and said polishing members provided with spiral ribs, and means acting to shift said integral breaking and polishing members radially outward when in operation.

7. In a device of the class described a shaft, inwardly facing cam disks thereon each having corresponding cam slots, a ro- &

carried thereon and movable radially therea in with the ends thereof sliding in the cam slots, a tapered rotative breaking and crushing member on each of said shafts having a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending from end to end oneach, and ribs arranged at various distances apart and a smoothing member on the same shaft at the rear of the breaking and crushing member.

' 8. In a device of the class described a shaft, inwardly facing cam disks thereon having corresponding cam slots, a rotative carrying member on the shaft, shafts carried thereon and movable radially therein with the ends thereof sliding in the cam slots, a tapered rotative breaking and crushing member on each of said shafts having a plurality of longitudinal ribs on each, arranged at various distances apart and a spirally ribbed smoothing member on the same shaft at the rear of, and integral with the breakingvand crushing member.

9. In a device of the class described a revoluble longitudinally ribbed breaking and crushing member, said ribs being various distances apart at a common section, and

10. In a device of the class described a revoluble longitudinally ribbed breaking and crushing member, said ribs being various distances apart at a common section, and polishing members connected with said breaking members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES OLIVER CASADAY.

Witnesses CHARLES-7V. HILLS, Jr., LEON M. Rnrns'rnm.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 1).,0."

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,133,262, granted March 30,

1915, upon the application of James Oliver Oasaday, of South Bend, Indiana, for an improvement in Rotative Boiler-Tube Cleaners, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 27, strike out the comma and the Word and and insert a period; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 1th day of May, A. Dr, 1915.

SEAL R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

